World Press Freedom Day: FG Calls For Collaboration To Address Disinformation, Misinformation

The Federal Government has called for stronger collaboration among the media, government institutions, and other stakeholders to address the growing threat of disinformation and misinformation, stressing that collective action is essential to protect public trust and national stability. The Honourable Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, made this known on Monday in Abuja at the 2026 World Press Freedom Day commemoration held at Radio House.

“This administration has prioritised collaboration with media stakeholders and international partners to promote responsible journalism, counter disinformation and misinformation,” said the Minister.

He described press freedom as a fundamental right guaranteed under the Constitution, noting that the Federal Government remains fully committed to its protection. “The Federal Government fully recognises press freedom as a fundamental right and remains committed to fostering an environment where the media can operate freely, safely, and responsibly, in accordance with democratic principles and the rule of law,” he stated.

Idris noted that the Federal Government, under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has taken deliberate steps to strengthen transparency and access to information through sustained media engagement, implementation of the Freedom of Information Act, and investment in public communication platforms.

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He further pointed to Nigeria’s partnership with UNESCO in establishing the International Media and Information Literacy Institute (IMILI) in Abuja as a key step towards building a more informed and discerning public. “This pioneering initiative reflects our commitment to strengthening media and information literacy, empowering citizens to engage with information critically, and promoting responsible communication in the digital age.”

The Minister urged journalists to uphold professionalism, fairness, and ethical standards in their work, stressing that press freedom must go hand in hand with responsibility. “The true test of press freedom lies not in our declarations, but in our actions, how safely journalists can do their work, how truthfully information is shared, and how responsibly it is consumed,” he said.

Earlier in her welcome address, the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation, Dr. Binyerem Ukaire, described the event as a critical platform for strengthening collaboration across institutions.

“This gathering reflects our shared commitment to strengthening press freedom and fostering a more informed and inclusive society. It provides an opportunity for constructive engagement on how best to advance a media environment that is both free and responsible,” she said.

World Press Freedom Day

Ukaire emphasised the need for coordinated responses to the challenges posed by the evolving information ecosystem, particularly the spread of misinformation. “The expansion of digital platforms has introduced new complexities that require coordinated institutional responses, especially in addressing misinformation and strengthening public trust,” she noted.

She added that the Ministry remains committed to facilitating dialogue, strengthening partnerships, and promoting professionalism within the media space.

The Federal Government reiterated its commitment to working with the media, civil society, and international partners to build a resilient information system that supports democratic governance, national unity, and sustainable development.

The event was attended by the Inspector General of Police, represented by FPRO, DCP Anthony Okon Placid, mni, mnipr; the Director-General of the Department of State Services, represented by Director of Protocol M. O. Chukwuka, fsi; Executive Secretary, Nigerian Press Council, Dr Dilli Ezughah; Head of UNESCO Abuja Office, represented by the Head of Communication and Information Sector, Ms Yachat Nuhu.

Rabiu Ibrahim
Special Assistant (Media) to the Honourable Minister of Information and National Orientation
Monday, May 4, 2026

Presidential Media Aides Undertake Nationwide Ture Of Key Infrastructure Projects In The North West

The Federal Government has launched a comprehensive nationwide inspection of critical infrastructure projects, reinforcing its commitment to timely execution, quality standards, and accountability under the Renewed Hope Agenda, with a focus on the North West region on Thursday.

The exercise commenced along the Abuja–Kaduna–Kano Highway corridor, where the Engineers’ Representative, Engr. Chukwuma Kalu, guided the inspection team across the completed 108-kilometre stretch extending from Tungan-Maje in the Federal Capital Territory to Jere in Kaduna State.

He disclosed that while this segment has been fully delivered, work on Section II is progressing steadily and is projected for completion by November. He observed that the corridor, once plagued by setbacks, is now evolving into a vital artery for mobility, trade, and economic revitalisation.

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Also speaking, the Senior Project Manager of Infiouest International Limited, Mr. Robert Turner, lauded the Federal Government’s sustained efforts, particularly the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Honourable Minister of Works, Engr. David Umahi, for the visible advancements on the project.

He highlighted that approximately 80 per cent of the workforce comprises Nigerian professionals, underscoring the administration’s emphasis on local content and capacity development.

The delegation further assessed progress on the Nnamdi Azikiwe–Kaduna Western Bypass. Originally awarded in 2021, the project has witnessed accelerated development since 2023. The 21.47-kilometre dual carriageway is strategically designed to ease traffic congestion within Kaduna metropolis while unlocking new economic opportunities across adjoining communities.

Beyond routine evaluation, the ongoing inspection tour—spanning multiple states in the North West—is intended to deepen transparency, foster public confidence, and provide firsthand insight into government projects.

Media Team Commission

In a related development, the Special Adviser on Media and Public Communication, Mr. Sunday Dare, explained that the Renewed Hope National Media Tour will encompass a broad spectrum of projects, including highways, rail infrastructure, healthcare facilities, educational institutions, and renewable energy initiatives.

He noted that media representatives will document on-the-ground progress and independently assess the impact of these interventions.

The tour, which begins with the Abuja–Kaduna corridor, is set to spotlight strategic infrastructure and social development projects that underscore the administration’s drive to reposition the North West through sustainable investments.

Mohammed A. Ahmed,
Director, Information and Public Relations.
1 May, 2026.

Workers’ Day: ADC Faults Tinubu Government On Workers’ Welfare

The African Democratic Congress has criticised the administration of Bola Ahmed Tinubu for what it described as a failure to protect Nigerian workers from worsening economic conditions, rising insecurity, and limited job opportunities.

In a Workers’ Day statement signed by Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the National Publicity Secretary of the party, the ADC said many Nigerians are working harder but earning less, as inflation continues to erode wages and the cost of living rises across key sectors including food, housing, transport, and energy.

The party attributed the situation to policy failures, arguing that insecurity has disrupted farming and business activity, while job creation has not kept pace with the growing workforce. It added that there has been no meaningful intervention to cushion the impact of inflation on Nigerian workers, emphasising that it is committed to building an economy that creates jobs, stabilises prices, and ensures that productivity translates into improved incomes, stressing that Nigerian workers are not asking for charity, but fairness.

The full statement read:

On this Workers’ Day, the African Democratic Congress stands in solidarity with millions of Nigerian workers whose daily effort sustains this country, even as the system, under the leadership of Bola Ahmed Tinubu, continues to fail them.

Across Nigeria today, workers are doing more and earning less. Rising costs of food, transport, housing, and energy have eroded the value of Nigerian workers daily and monthly wages. For many, hard work no longer guarantees stability, dignity, or upward mobility. This is not sustainable. And it is not acceptable.

This hardship is not accidental. It is the direct consequence of policy choices and governance failures by the APC. Insecurity remains widespread, making it difficult for farmers to produce and for businesses to operate.

Job creation has stalled at a time when millions of young Nigerians are entering the workforce. The cost of living continues to rise without any meaningful or sustained intervention to cushion its impact on workers.

A government that cannot guarantee safety, create jobs, or stabilise the cost of living is a government that is failing its workers. A nation that does not reward work cannot build prosperity.

The ADC believes that the dignity of labour must be matched by the dignity of reward. This requires an economy that is deliberately structured to create jobs, support enterprise, and ensure that productivity translates into real income for workers.

ADC, Tinubu

This is why, as a party, our commitment is clear: to drive job creation by unlocking key sectors of the economy, especially agriculture, manufacturing, and services; to restore security as a foundation for economic activity, ensuring that Nigerians can work, farm, and do business without fear; to stabilise the macroeconomic environment so that wages can regain their value; to reduce the cost of living by addressing inflation at its roots, from food production to energy supply; to support small and medium-sized businesses, which remain the largest employers of labour in Nigeria; and, to ensure that policies are designed with the Nigerian worker at the centre, not as an afterthought
Workers are not asking for charity. They are asking for fairness. What they have received instead is neglect.

Signed:

Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi
National Publicity Secretary
African Democratic Congress (ADC)